Should I clean my solar panels?
Lyall Burgess- Apr 26
- 2 min read
WASH ME! How much potential power is being lost from dirty solar panels?
The short answer is yes you should clean your solar panels to improve panel production and daily output. From the photo above it looks like it’s time to clean the Sonora desert sand off the solar panels aboard Sailing Totem. This was whilst they were in the Sea of Cortez and is just one example of how your solar panels can get dirty. We had a similar thing happen to us whilst in the Canary Islands and in the first part of our Atlantic crossing in 2021. We had sand from the Sahara desert blowing into the Atlantic and settling all over the boat (including our solar panels)
Other examples of what can make your solar panels dirty might be dried saltwater crystals, bird poop, dead flying fish, dead squid and leaves. We moored our boat in the Ft. Lauderdale canals and were underneath a tree that although provided some nice shade did drop a lot of leaves! No matter the dirt it is all doing a great job of blocking the active solar surface of your solar panels.
Clean solar panels means more power aboard
What to clean my solar panels with?
The best way to clean solar panels is to use a soft cloth, or sponge, with a small amount of mild dish soap and clean water, applying it with a low-pressure hose. You can then also use a squeegee to remove excess water. It's best to avoid using harsh chemicals, abrasive scrubbers, or high-pressure washers as they can damage the panels.
How often to clean my solar panels?
You should clean your panels as often as possible, each time you hose the boat down on the dock or monthly if you are on anchor/mooring ball. Solar panels are self-cleaning, to a degree, as rainwater will help wash off most dirt & debris. However, it's a good idea to look at your panels to make sure there are no obvious shading issues eg. bird poop or leaves which may need to be attended to. Cleaning when the panels are cool (early morning or late evening) is best to avoid thermal shock to the panels (ie cold water on a hot solar panel)
Very dirty solar panels!
Wowsers! We had an email from one of our customers Dave back in 2020 showing some before and after photos of an issue they were dealing with that was affecting their solar panel performance aboard an Albin 27'.
"Never had such a guano problem on our sailboat!"
Dave commented that the bird problem was a surprise, especially the bones! His solution was a Bird-B-Gone, a 6-foot Spinning Bird deterrent and now it's fixed the issue he's working on a permanent mount for it. Check out their website for similar products www.birdbgone.com
In summary, it's a good idea to get a visual on your solar panels, clean them often, do so gently and try to clean them in the early morning or late afternoon. This will help get the most out of your solar panels, increase production and mean increased clean & quiet power aboard.
Have any questions don't hesitate to get in touch with us info@sunpoweredyachts.com
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